Filing cabinet or tray



Pdtented June 14, 1921.

E. OH NSTRAND.

FILING CABINET 0R T RAY. APPLICATION FILED NOV. I7. I919.

E. OHNSTRAND. FILING CABINET OR TRAY.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 17, 1919 Patented June 14, 1921.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ENOGH OENSTRAND, OF MOHAWK, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO LIBRARY BUREAU, OFCAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

FILING CABINET 0R TRAY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 14, 1921.

Application filed November 17, 1919. Serial No. 338,587.

To all 10 ltom it may concern Be it known that I, ENocH OHNSTRAND, acitizen of the United States, and resident of Mohawk, in the county ofHerkimer and State of New York, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Filing Cabinets or Trays, of which the following is aspecification. I

. This invention relates to a cabinet or filing tray and moreparticularly to a tray of the type provided with means for locking thecards 6., filing cards, sheets, folders, etc.,) therein in such manneras to insure their retention within the tray when the tray istransferred from place to place.

Difficulty has been experienced heretofore in adequately securing cardsin a filing tray to prevent them from becoming displaced in theeventthat the tray becomes accidentally overturned in transferring the trayfrom place to place. This difliculty has been overcome to some extent byproviding the cards with suitable perforations adjacent their loweredges through which a looking rod is adapted to pass. While this expedient securely retains the cards, it renders their speedy removal fromthe tray difiicult as the locking rod must first be removed. Further thecards are held. only at their lower edges and even though the followeris moved tightly against the row of cards to press their lower edgestogether, the upper edges are not pressed together and consequentlyafford spaces between the cards in which dirt may accumulate when thecards are not in use. A principal object of the present inven tion is toobviate the difficulties heretofore encountered in the production of aneflicient ledger or filing tray, to provide a tray which is simple anddurable in construction and to provide efiicientmeans for retaining andlocking cards within the tray in such a position as to retain them inshape, prevent dust and dirt from entering therebetween, and to insuretheir retention within the tray when they are not in use or when it isdesired to transfer them from place to place as in transferring them toand from a fire-proof storage vault.

The invention will now be described in connection with one illustrativespecies only In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through a ledger tray illustratingthe application thereto of the improved card retaining and lockingmechanism constructed in accordance with the present invention, thepresser plate being shown in its operated position;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional detail of the forward end of theledger tray showin the presser plate in its normal unoperatec position;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the presser plate;

Fig. 4 is a detail of the presser plate actuating member;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the rack with which the followercooperates;

Fig. 6 is a. detail transverse section through the bottom of the trayshowing the manner in which the rack is mounted in the bottom of thetray;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view partly in elevation of the follower;

Fig. 8 is a rear elevational view of the follower with the pawl leveromitted;

Fig. 9 is a transverse section taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a rear elevational view of the improved adjustable followerplate; and

Fig. 11 is a detail of the follower pawl.

The improved ledger tray T comprises in general a tray having end panels1 and 2 joined at their lower edges by a bottom panel 3 and at theirvertical edge-s by side panels at, only one of which is illustrated inFig. 1, a follower F, a presser plate P and a rod 5 for locking thefollower and presser plate within the tray.

The front end of the tray as shown at the left in Fig. l is providedwith a sloping false front 6 which is held separated from the end panel1 adjacent the bottom panel by an inturned flange 7 and which is securedto the panel 1 near its upper edge by being bent over the reinforcingbar 8 which is secured to the panel 1 in any suitable manner. Thepresser plate P comprises a flat plate 9 pivotally attached to thebottom panel 3 adjacent the lower edge of the false front 6 by tabs 10(Figs. 2 and 3) which pass freely through suitable slots 11 in thebottom panel. These tabs are retained in the slots by means of cotterpins 12 which pass through holes 13 in the tabs and engage beneath thebottom panel 3 when the plate 9 is in position. The plate 9 is alsoprovided upon its lower edge with a tab 14 which extends into thechannel 15 (Figs. 1 and 6) the said tab being provided with an opening16 through WlllCll the locking rod 5 extends.

When the tray is in use and the cards are to be consulted the plate 9occupies the position shown in Fig. 2 inclined toward the front end ofthe tray substantially parallel to false front plate 6. hen it isdesired to lock the cards within the tray the plate 9 is moved toasubstantially vertical position as shown in Fig. 1. To accomplish this,there is provided an actuating or pressure member 17 which is hinged tothe front panel 1 of the tray adjacent the upper edge thereof by meansof the hinge 18 (Figs. 1 and 4). The member 17 is provided with a flatplate 19 suitably folded around its parallel longitudinal limbs 20 and21 which serves as a surface against which pressure may be applied forpushing the member into its operated position. The limb 20 of pressuremember 17 extends outwardly beyond the sides of the member at either endas at 22 (Fig. 4) which extensions cotiperate with guide members 23 onthe plate 9 arranged toreceive them (Figs. 1, 2 and 3). lVhen the plate9 occupies the position shown in Fig. 2 the ends 22 of member 17 rest inthe upper end of the guides 23 and are retained in that position byslight protuberances 24 (Fig. 3) struck up from the plate 9. To move theplate 9 to its vertical position, the member 17 is pressed down over theprotuberances into the position shown in Fig. 1 or substantiallyparallel with the top of the tray. 7

The follower F comprises a vertically disposed plate 25 reinforced atits edges by rearwardly extending side flanges'26 and .provided upon itslower edge with a rear- I wardly extending bottom flange 27 so disposedas to rest upon and slide upon the bottom panel 3 of the tray. Securedto the under side of flange 27 and extending at right angles to theplate 25 is a guide member 28 provided with two extending guide fingers29 (F ig. 8) adapted to slide in the rack channel 30 which is suitablydisposed in the channel 15 in the bottom of the tray, the channel 30being provided throughout the major portion of its length withhorizontally inwardly extending flanges 31 which embrace the uppersurface of fingers 29 for the purpose of holding and steadying the guidemember 28 in its movement along the channel.

Secured to plate 25 and to its bottom flange 27 is a flanged member'32,to the parallel side flanges 33 of which a pawl member 34 is pivoted bysuitable means such as rivet 35 (Figs. 1 and 7). The pawl 34 ischannel-shaped as shown most clearly in Fig. 11 being pivoted to themember 32 through its flanges 36. The upper portion the pawl is bent toform an operating grip 37 and the lower end of the pawl which is adaptedto extend downwardly into the rack channel 30 is provided with pawlteeth which coeperate with two series of perforations 39 in the bottomwall of the rack channel. The pawl 34 is held in such position asnormally to engage its pawl teeth 33 in a pair of perforations 39 in therack PA by means of a spring 40 secured at one end to the member 32 andengaging at its free end the pawl member 34 at a point above the pivotTo disengage the pawl from the rack.,tlie end 37 of the pawl and theindentured portion 41 of the plate 25 are engaged ly the fingers and thepawl is pressed toward the plate 25 thereby lifting the pawl teeth 38from the perforations which they on D The follower may then be movedalen ;he'bottom of the tray being guided by the guide member 28.

Adjustably connected with the vertical p ate 25 is a guard plate 42which is adapted to contact withthe cards disposed within the tray. Thisplate extends above the plate 25 and is'provided at its upper edge witha cut away portion 43 for permitting access to the r back of the file ofcards. The lower edge of the plate rests upon the bottom panel 3 of thetray and is provided with a T-shaped tab 44 which extends downwardlyinto the rack channel 30, the arms 45 of the tab underlying the flanges31 of the rack channel for the purpose of guiding and retaining theplate 42. The tab 44 is also provided with a slot 43 through which thelocking rod 5 is adapted to pass. v

The plate 42 is adjustably connected to the plate 25 by means of headedpins 47 secured to the plate 42 and extending through vertical slots 48disposed in the plate 25. The provision of the pin and slot connectionbetween plates 42 and 25 enables the bottom of plate 42 to be swungbackwardly toward the plate 25until the plate 42 occupies a verticalposition adjacent the plate 25. To hold the bottom of plate 42 away fromthe. plate 25, the plate 42 is provided with shouldered lugs 49struck-up (Fig. 10) therefrom adjacent its vertical edges. These lugsextend rearwardly toward the plate 25 and engage in slots 50 providedtherefor in plate 25. As most clearly shown in Fig. 7 the shoulders ofthe lugs are adapted to engage the bottom of the slots 50 to therebymaintain the lower edges of plates 25 and 42 separated. When it idesired to swing the plate 42 to a vertical position adjacent the plate25, it is only necessary to lift the plate 42 slightly to disengage theshoulders of the lugs 49 from the bottom of slots 50 when the lugs maybe pushed entirely through the slots to permit movement of the bottomedge of plate 42 toward plate 25.

By reference to Figs. 1 and 5 it will be seen that the flanges 31 havebeen omitted from the rack channel 30 adjacent the rearward end of thetray to permit the removal of the follower from the tray shoulo suchremoval be desirable. To remove the follower F it is only necessary toremove the locking rod 5 and to slide the follower to the rear end ofthe tray, in which position, due to the omission of the flanges 31, thefollower may be lifted bodily from the tray.

In using the improved ledger or filing tray, cards and index cards areplaced in the tray between the presser plate P and the follower F in theusual manner, the presser plate being preferably released to theposition shown in Fig. 2 and the follower F being moved along the trayto engage the back of the file of cards in the manner hereinbeforedescribed. The cards may then be tilted back against the sloping plate4-2 of the follower and forwardly against the slop ing presser plate asdesired to consult their contents in accordance with the well-knownpractice.

When it is desired to lock the cards in the tray to preserve them inbetter shape while not in use, or to transfer the tray to or from thestorage vault, the adjustable follower plate 42 is released to avertical position against the plate 25 of the follower and the followeris moved as a whole tightly against the rear end of the file of cards.The presser member 17 is then pressed into the position shown in Fig. 1thereby moving the presser plate 9 to a vertical position in which itfirmly presses the card together against the plate 42 of the follower.

The improved filing tray constructed in accordance with this inventionpossesses several important features among which may be mentioned, afollower which is entirely fabricated with few and simple parts fromsheet metals, which may be easily and securely adjusted to any desiredposition between the ends of the tray, and which is provided with anadjustable plate for contact with the filing cards to enable the cardsto be held either in a sloping position for consultation or in avertical position when not in use; an improved rack member forcooperation with the follower which may be easily fabricated from sheetmetal; and a. presser plate which may be released to a sloping positionwhen it is desired to consult the cards within the tray, and which maybe forced to a vertical position to cooperate with the improved followerto hold the cards in a vertical position closely pressed togetherthereby preventing dust and dirt from entering between the cards,preserving the cards in a fiat unbent condition, and locking themsecurely within the tray dur ing transfer from place to place as whenthe tray is moved to and from the customary fireproof storage vault.

I claim:

1. A cabinet or filing tray having therein a follower comprising avertically disposed member adapted to be moved longitudinally along thetray, means for locking said member in any of its adjusted positions, aguard plate connected in swinging relation to the upper end of saidmember, in suclrmanner as to permit the lower portion of said plate tobe moved toward and away from said member.

2. A cabinet or filing tray having therein a follower comprising avertically disposed member adapted to be moved longitudinally along thetray, means for locking said member in any of its adjusted positions,and a guard plate pivotally connected to the upper end of said member,whereby said plate may betilted relatively to the said member orpositioned in parallelism therewith.

3. A cabinet or filing tray having therein a follower comprising avertically disposed member adapted to be moved longitudinally along thetray, means for locking said mem her in any of its adjusted positions, atiltable guard plate, and pin and slot connections for attaching saidplate to said member whereby said plate may be tilted relatively to saidmember or positioned in parallelism therewith.

4. A tray having therein a follower with a vertical member, a guardplate tiltable with respect to the member, and means for spacing theplate in tilted position from the member.

5. A tray having therein a follower with a vertical member, a guardplate tiltable with respect to the member, and means extending betweenthe lower portions of the plate and member for spacing the plate fromthe member.

6. A tray having therein a follower with a vertical member, a guardplate tiltable with respect to the member and a lug extending from theplate in the direction of the member for spacing the plate from themember.

7. A tray having therein a follower with a vertical member, a guardplate tiltable with respect to the member, and a lug having a shoulderextending from the plate in the direction of the member, said memberhaving a slot therein for the passage of the lug and for engagement withthe shoulder for spacing the plate from the member.

8. A cabinet orfiling tray having therein a follower comprising avertically disposed flanged member adapted to be moved longitudinallyalong the tray, a rack member disposed in the bottom of said tray, aguiding member secured to the lower edge of said flanged member andslidable within said rack member, and a pawl carried by said flangedmember and cooperating with said rack for locking said flanged member inany of its adjusted positions.

9. A cabinet or filing tray having therein a follower comprising avertically disposed flanged member adapted to be moved longitudinallyalong the tray, a channel-shaped rack member disposed in the bottom ofsaid tray, said rack member having inwardly turned horizontal flangesalong its upper edges, a guiding member secured to the lower edge ofsaid flanged member and slidable beneath the flanges of said rackchannel, and means carried by said flanged member and cooperating withsaid rack channel for locking said flanged member in any of its adjustedpositions.

10. A cabinet or filing tray having therein a follower comprising avertically disposed flanged member adapted to be moved longitudinallyalong the tray, a channel-shaped rack member disposed in the bottom ofsaid tray, said rack member being provided with a series ofperforations, and a pawl carried by said flanged member and cooperatingwith the perforations of said rack member for retaining said flangedmember in any of its adjusted positions.

11. A cabinet or filing tray having therein a follower comprising avertically disposed member adapted to be moved longitudinally along thetray, a flanged member secured to said first member, a channel shapedpawl pivoted to the flanges of said second member, a rack disposed inthe bottom of said tray with which said pawl is adapted to engage, and aspring secured to said flanged member and engaging said pawl fornormally engaging said pawl with said rack.

Signed by me at Ilion, N. Y., this 17th day of October, 1919.

ENOCH OHNSTRAND.

